Label-spreader.



UNTTED STATES PATENT OEETCE.

GEORGE N. BYL AND JOSEPH KOEHLER, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

LABEL-SPREADER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 5, 1907.

Application filed May 9, 1906. Serial No. 315,962.

To @ZZ whom, tt may concern.-

Be it known that we, GEORGE N. BYL and J osnrr-I KOEHLER, citizens ofthe United States, and residents of Jersey City, in the adhesivematerial, which device can be adjusted to receive labels of varyingwidth and length, and wherein the labels will be held in separate groupsor packages, and wherein also the feed of the labels will be automaticand reliable.

A further purpose of the invention is to so construct the device thatthe labels can be spread from a single bundle or package if desired,orsimultaneously from a number of bundles or packages, and so that thelabels will be uniformly and rapidly spread and so delivered and laid asto prevent the possibility of injury to the labels, it being possible tooperate the device by hand.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide a device of the characterdescribed in which springs are not employed and in which the labels canbe conveniently and expeditiously loaded and from which the labels canbe readily delivered one from each bundle or package at each operationof the device.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination oftheseveral parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed outin the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecoresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved device. F ig. 2 is alongitudinal vertical section, drawn up on an enlarged scale,the sectionbeing taken substantially on the line 2 2 of F ig. 1. F ig. 3 is atransverse section taken substantially on the line 3 3 of lT ig. 2, andFig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the adjustable partitions.

A represents a box-body, of metal, and said box-body is rectangular andis of greater length than width. The box-body A is closed at the top andat the sides, but is open at the bottom, and at each preferably made'end of the box-body a plate 10 extends downward below the lower edges ofits side portions, and said end plates 10 terminate at their bottomedges in forwardly-extending and more or less beveled flanges 11, as isbest shown in Fig. 2. An ear 12 extends out from each side edge of eachend plate 10, and said ears may constitute an integral portion of saidend plates, each ear 12 being provided with a vertical slot 13, for apurpose to be hereinafter mentioned.

The box-body A is provided with series `of partitions, one of which isillustrated in detail in Fig. 4, whereby to divide the said boxbody intoa desired number of pockets or compartments, and in each pocket .orcompartment formed by said partitions a bundle or bunch of labels B isplaced. Each of the partitions consists of a straight body-section 14,which is of a 'width practically corresponding to the width of the mainbody-section A, as is best shown in Fig. 3, and at the top of each ofthe said partitions a horizontal head-flange 15 is formed, extendingbeyond both side faces of the body, and at the cen- 'tral portion of thebody-section 14 of a partition and just below the head-fiange 15 atransverse slot or opening 16 is made. At the bottom edge of thebody-section 14 of each partition a foot-flange 17 is produced,extending also beyond both sides of the bodysection, and, as illustratedbest in Fig. 2, the upper faces of the foot-flanges are beveled more orless from the body-section downward and outward. These foot-flanges 17of the said partitions engage with the lowermost label in a bunch orpackage and serve to hold the bunches or packages intact in theirpockets until removed by application to a gummed surface. The bottomflanges 11 of the end plates 10 of the body-section A perform the samefunctions as do the said foot or bottom vflanges 17.

The partitions for the body A are adjustably held therein by passing abar 18 loosely through the openings 16 in the various partitions, thebar 18, as is shown in Fig. 2, extending from end to end of the mainbodysection A. Bolts 19 are passed up through the bar 18, preferably oneat each side of its center, and said bolts 19 are provided at theirupper end portions with wing-nuts 20, so that by screwing down the saidnuts the plate or bar 18 is drawn upward and held up- IOC IIOS

ward in a manner to rmly clamp the headtlanges l5 to the under side ofthe upper portion of the main body-section A, thus holding thepartitions in the positions to which they may have been usted. lf anyone or more of the partitions are not needed, they are simply slid asfar as possible to one end of said body-section, as is shown to the leftin Fig. 2. The bolts 19 pass also each through opposing plates 2l and22, having side flanges, the 'flanges of one plate being in engagementwith the flanges of the mating plate. These plates preferably extendfrom side to side of the body A, resting loosely thereon. Twoadjusting-rods 23 are used in connection with each pair of plates 21 and22, and these adjusting-rods are passed between the plates at oppositesides of the adjusting-screw passed through the plates, as clearly shownin Fig. 2. These adjustingrods 23 may be made of any suitable length, soas to extend as far as desired beyond the side faces of the main bodyportion ofthe device, and their outer ends are bent downward or areotherwise directed for attachment to binding or guard plates 24, whichare preferably of equal length to the length of the body A. The plates24 are parallel and are adapted to engage with the ends of bundles orpackages of labels B to assist in holding them in position, andtherefore these plates 24 are made adjustable, so as to accommodatethemselves to different lengths of labels. The labels are automaticallyfed down, so that the lowerinost label will always be in engagement withthe Afoot or bottom `lianges of the pocket in which they are placed bymeans of weighty bars C, and these bars may be made of metal or may beVmade of hard wood, as desired. One of such bars is located adjacent toeach outer side face of the main body-section A of the device, as isshown in Figs. l and 3, and connecting-bars 25 are secured to the endsof the feed-bars C, said connecting-bars 25 being loosely passed throughthe slots 13 in the ears 11 at the end of the body-section A, so that asthe labels are withdrawn from the bundles the said bars will act toautomatically press or feed downward the remaining labels in a bundle orpackage. The said labels may likewise be fed downward by means ofhandle-bars D, located one adjacent to the inner face of each binding orguard plate 24, and these handle-bars D have projections or fingergrips26, formed at their central portions, so that the device can be readilyoperated by one hand. These handle-bars D are connected with the guardor binding plates 24 by means of bolts 27,l which are passed through theend portions of the handle-bars and through vertical slots 2S at theends of the said guard-plates, as is shown in Figs. l and 3, the boltsbeing provided at their outer ends with suitable nuts and washers 29, so

that if so desired the handle members D may be adjusted upon and rigidlyattached to the guard or binding plates 24.

In operation a surface having been covered with an adhesive material andthe labels having been properly placed in the device, it is simplynecessary to press the device down upon the gummed surface, and uponraising the device the lowermost labels will have adhered to saidsurface, and this operation is repeated until as many labels have beenthus deposited as may be desired.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patentl. A label-spreader consisting of a chamberedbody-section open at the bottom, partitions adjustable in the saidbody-section, said partitions being provided with label-retainingflanges at their bottom portions, and 'feed-b ars for labels, havingsliding and guided movement relative to the said body.

2. In a label-spreader, a chambered body open at the bottom, a series ofpartitionsadjustably located in the said body, each partition beingprovided with a label-retaining 'flange at its lower edge, aretaining-bar passed through said partitions, set-screws connected withthe retaining-bar, being adapted to tighten the same on the saidpartitions, and feed-bars mounted to slide at each side of the saidbody.

3. In a label-spreader, a chambered body, partitions adjustable in thesaid body, having label-retaining flanges at their lower ends, feed-barshaving loose guided connection with the said body, means for securingthe partitions in adjusted position, adjustingbars carried by the body,and binding and guard plates secured to the outer end portions of thesaid adjusting-bars.

4. 1n a label-spreader, a chambered bodysection open at the bottom, apartition adjustably located in said body-section and having alabel-retaining Hangs at its lower end, 'feed-b ars mounted for slidingmovement at the side portions of the said body, adjusting-bars extendingfrom the body in opposite directions, a locking device common to theadjusting-bars and to the partition, guard or binding plates secured tothe outer end portions of the adjusting-bars, and handle-bars connectedwith the binding-plates.

5. In a label-spreader, the combination with a chambered body open atthe bottom, slotted ears at the ends of the said body, feedbars locatedat the sides of the said body, connecting-rods for the lfeed-bars,passed through the slots in the said ears, and a .handle for the device,of partitions having openings therein at their upper edges, the saidpartitions being adjustable in said body, each partition being providedwith a labelretaining flange at its lower end, a bar loosely passedthrough the said partitions and IOO IIO

loosely placed in the said body, adjustingnames to this specification inthe presence 0f bars mounted to slide in opposite directions twosubscribing Witnesses.

on the said body bindino" or guard plates secured to the outer ends oit7the adjusting-bars, GEORGE N' BYL' and fastening devices common to thebar I JOSEPH KOEHLER passed through the partitions and to the saidVitnesses: adjusting-bars for the purpose described. GEO. W. RUsoDE,

In testimony whereof We have signed our DENNIS B. RYAN.

